Pilot-lamp mechanism for automobiles.



C. V. BATES.

PILOT LAMP MECHANISM FUR AUTOMOBHESL APPLICATION Hun JAN-19.1916.

3 SHEE'I'S SHEET I.

c. v. BATES. PILOT LAMP MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

r APPLiCATION FILED JAN. 19. ISIS.

Patented Oct. 8, 1918.

3 SHEETSS HEET 2.

c, v. BATES. PlLOT ILAMP MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-19, i916 1,280,9 k5. I Patented Oct. 8,1918.

3 $HEETS--SHEET 3.

- nism for I swing horizontally steering wheels.

UNITED s'rn'rE-s PATENT: OFFICE.

Y cnxrronn'v. BATES, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PILOT-LAM? MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification otLetters Patent.

Application med .l'anuary 19, 1916. Serial No. 72,889.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CLIFFORD V; Barns, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Chicago, in the of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful In rovements in Pilot-Lamp Mechautomobiles, of which thefollowingiiis a specification.

y invention relates to pilot lam mechanisnl for automobile and contempates im roved construction and arrangement which is more desirable andefficient.

Head lights have been aiii'xed to the front end of motor vehiclestoswing horizontally and have beenconnected with the steering mechanismof the vehicle to However, such lamps. are heavy and when thus pivotedthey will be subjected to severe jarring, jolting and strain owing tothe vibration of-the vehicle over roads and the continuous operation-ofthe steering mechanism. Such dirigible head lights have therefore beenpractically abandoned and lighter pilot lamps have been adopted andsecured to t frame or elsewhere driver. However, s ch thus far adaptedonly for manual adjustment and swim and have not been connected withthe1 steering mechanism for automatic contro The object of my inventionis to provide a small, light and durable pilot lamp adapted to bemounted at the edge'of a wind shield for swing about a vertical axis andconnected with the steering mechanism to with the wheels. The lamp bodyitself i also adapted to be manually swung in vertical planes andanother object is to provide improved means for enablingdisconnection ofthe lamp body from thedriving train connected with the steeringmechanism in order that the lamp may be readily and quickly adjustedmanually either vertically or horizontally independentl'y of thesteering mechanism and to be quickly re-connected with the driving trainafter independent ter in what 'position the steering mechanism mav be.

county of Cook and State swing with the a he wind shield to beaccessible to the pilot lamps have been manual operation no mat-.

The various features of my invention are clearly disclosed on theaccompanying drawing in whic. i

Figure 1 is aside elevational view of the front end of an automobilewith part of the wheel and fender broken away,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the front end the automobile frame showing theconnec tion of the automatic pilot lamp controlling mechanism with thesteering mechanism,

F1g. '3 is an enlarged diametral sectional view on plane 3 3, Fig. 1,

Patented Oct. 8, 1-918.

Fig. l is a sectional view on plane 4-4,

Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on plane 5-5,

F igi 6 is a plan view from plane 6 -6,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view showing the connection ofthe lamp driving Fig. 8 is sectional view on plane 8--8, Fig. 7, g lFig. 9 i a sectional'view on plane 9--9,

Fig. 7, Y

'Fi 10 is a sectional view on plane 10- -10, Fig.

Fig. 1]. is a view partly'in section showing a modified releasableconnection between the lamp-structure and the driving train,'and

12 is a sectional view on plane 12-12,

eferring to Figs. 1 and 2, 15 represents the body of an automobilesupported on the frame side beams 16 and 17. 18 represents the frontaxle and 19 represents one of the front steering wheels pivoted to theaxle by the knuckle frame 20- the inner arm, of which is connected byrod 21 with the knuckle frame supporting the other wheel (not shown).Extending from the knuckle 70 train with the vehicle steering mechanism,

frame 20 is a lever arm 22 connected by link 23 with the lower end of arocker arm 24 which is secured at its upper end to a shaft 5 25extending, through the bearing 26 'provided on the side beam 17, theshaft-at its inner end carrying a worm wheel 27 with.

wh1ch meshes the worm 28 on the lower end of a steering post 29controlled the steerturned the vehicle steering. wheels vWill wingtin amanner well understood to guide ends of the tube 31 respectively.Extending laterally from the sleeve is a conical 111;;

381 which fits in a horizontal socket 39 at the outer end of thesupporting arm. 40.

,Thisarrn 40 has the inner arcuute clamping end 41.1fm: cooperating'with a similar end il of the plate 43 which is secured vto the arm. 4pby bolts 44.. The 'ends 41 and 42 clamp between. them the cylindricalside frame 45 of the wind shield ll The lug 38 has the threaded neck 47for receiving the nut l-t By means of the engagement of the urcuute end4 and 42 with the orlinrlricnl Frame 45 the arm ll run he adiusl'edhorrzonlally, and by the engagmnrnl oi the lug; 38 in the sew-lint 39the sleeve 32 can he rotated and ufljusted in :1 vertical plane andsecured in adjusted position by tightening of the nut in. i

The lower end of sleeve 32 is threaded to receive the coupling ring- 49Whose flange 5O reeeivesth'e flange of the coupling head to securelyclamp the head to the sleete 32. The head is secured to the upper end ofthe sl'ieath which contains the flexible shall 4, this shaft extendingthrough opening' in. the head and terminating in. the polvgonal end 5!},the lower end oi. the tube Ell. being; correspoiulingly polygonal. in--dicated at 57 Fig. 4') lo receive the end 56 so that upon turning of theflexible shaft the tube will turn tlmrewil'h.

To the rear of the rocker arm 52f) comm-Med with the steering mechanism,a bracket is secured to the side beam 17 and hes the upper verticalbee-ring sleeve '58 and the lower horizontal bearing sleeve 60L donrnalcd in the sleeve (50 is the stub shaft 61 to Whose inner end issecinred the bevel gear '62. Journaled in the sleeve 59 is the hub 63extending from the bevel- }:ea-r 64 which meshes with the gear 62. Thesleeve 59 is externally threaded to receivethe coupling ring whichlocks'the couplingend :66 to the sleeve, a n d in, this coupling end thelo Wer 7 end of the flexibleshaftsheath 53' is sewn-ed,

the lower end (if the flexible shaft 54- having I The front end of thislink is bifurcated to the polygonal end 67 engaging in the polygonalpocket 68 in the huhGL).

Secured at its upper end to the outer end I of the stub shaft (31 is thearm 69 tov \vhose lower end pivoted the rear end oi link 70.

' stem'TQ', I k ib t I I stem, is. tirin t ansmitted to the lamp"house-1.

pivotully receive the lug 71 extending from the cla 'np frame 72.Thisclamp frame-has the concave base {afar receiving the rocker arm 29and a clamping member 74 is-brought against the o posite'side ofthe'rocker arm by means 0 a screw 75 which threads throughthe' head 76 ofthe frame 72, the .wz'ew having a polygonal head 77 for re ceivi'ng awrench. "The engagement of the link with the rocker arm 29 is thusadjustable and in order to adjust the length of the link 70 the link isin two'sections connected by turn buckle, 78. Withthe arrangement thusfar described, when the steering hand Wheel 30 is turned the rockernrm29 will swing andthroilgh link 23 the motion Willbe transmitted tothe'steerin knuckles of the vehicle s tee'ring wheels, an at the sametime arm' 69, ivill swing with the arm 29 and gear-62 will be rotated toeffect rotation of gezir 64: and the-flexible shaft 52, such lurning'ofthe flexible shaft being coinmunicated to the tube 31 and to the lampructnre I) mounted on s tube, the lamp structure swinging in the hedirection as the Wheels so that the he cm the lamp 90 will becorrespondingly ted, By adjusting the connection oi link 70 with therocker arm 29 the of swing of the lamp will be-the same as the angles ofswing of the vehicle wheels or will be greater or less. I Referring toFigs 1, 3 and 5, cal stein "?9"e xtends into the upper end of tube 31and has the cylindrical enlargement 80 at its lower end snuglybutrotationelly fitting in the upper -ei'lindrical end offithe tube. Theguide cup Si; has screw-threaded; engagement. with the upper conestructure 36 and has the guide i'iinssagewny for-the stein. "it pinfifiiextends through the stem [one for ei'igagement with the top of the cap'81 and the dialnetral ,detent slot in the cap top. Encircling the steini9 between-the enlarged lower end (.0 and the cap Slis a." compressionspring this spring tending' to hold the stein in the slot 84 or againsthe.- smooth top-0t thee-an. It the'piriii'sQ'ih slot the stem will turnwith the tube 31 the steering mechanisn'i is turned, 'but" w e the stemis raised against the spri gto the pin out of he-slot the stent "im 8-6are twoears' end -88 between which the? ed: and held. by' a bolt 90 "nut91. The head 89 92 which has 'th" 'g the upper end of screw 94 beingprovided the stein.- Rotation o t socket; 93

26 quickly available nut 90 the Iaihp housing ca be swung in a.

vertical plane on the pivot b 1t90. Usually thc wing nut is tightenedjust sufiicichtly to 5 umivcnt displacement, in vcrtical planc' of ,hc12mm whilo the lamp is rotating in a; horizontal plane duringsteaming-ct the v91. hiclc but to psrmit' the lamp 'to be rciidilymanually adjusted Norticully when. desired; By liftingthc lump [1 shortdistance to raise the latent pin 83 out of dctcnt notch 84, it can thanbe readily its vertical independently of the steep ing mechanism, andthen when the lmnp is Q 15 rotated mammlly to bring the pin back intothe lamp will again follow the steering ntictl :tnism. This ability toreadily and quickly (lisassociate tho lump from the steering mechanismin order that it why be manually: independently rotated liiorizointallyand t0 quiokl nism onus one ofthe important features of my invention asit will" cnublei the lamp to ho thi'ough a wide sweep hath horizontallyantl vet-tic "1130. head lights will nut be necessary on thawshicleFurthm'moro, tho lamp itself being $0 very small anil light it willwithout st 22MB thereto accurately follow all movements of the steeringmechanism and it will not be an? fectedby the jar i g i tins 0f -W to tncction to en nlt turnmg ofithet um struc tum on 851d} suppcrtingmfimbervin epend-c cntlvthet'coi hicle.

In Figs what modified atrungcmcnt for I disconnect iing the lamp fromthostecrmg mechanism.)

lever. 95 is pivhtccl to the side As} shown, u I

96 fill tilts down of the base; 92; by a screw:

#0 turned im lcr out], twccb'ptratcs with notchf 98 in the top of'thcczup ttlx, the end 9? s1;-

tcnding through a slot. 99' in 'thc buscfilil, this base bin'y cxtonlitti illtk') engagcmcnt with the, cap.

(951' and the boss is interposed a. compression spriu 100 which tncndsto swing the lever to holii its end 93' securely inathc notch 98 to thusnormally look thc base 92. anti the lump thc hullhsaring oonc structureht tubs ill which conncctsd ll mechanism. When it is ass tho lamp forindcpcndsut rotutum flilb bliltkbt cult], "of love? 95 is r1cn 11 towithdraw tho out]. 97 from tho notch 98; 1th; of course cvidcntthutothsrcomicctions may Inc used forv adapting (lision oftl'tc hm' p structtu-cfor tsunami rotation intlcpcndcntly of tho steering mcchm'iism. EOthsrarrm igsmcutsl may 1 ho to hc liuri'ithtl and by suiliciently looshningflit motor veh1c1e,of usloeve-secured adjacent thc manually rotatedabout reconnect it with the steering mocha-- for spot light purposesWith such efiicicnt pilot lump and steering mechanism 7 of a} drivrs;seat,asup15orting member rotatable withinsaid "slecve aboutaflvertic'a'l axis, 11' driving train connecting said supporting 1/uiember with the stocring mechanism to causc rotation of sold mmnborwhcnthe steenng mcchumsm is'operuteci to swing the steering whccls, a pilotlm'u'p structurc on said supand u releasable driving this stem'ingmcchani'sm andlfor releasing the lamp structure for manual controlindependently of the steorihg mechanism. t 9. The combinhtiqntwiththeboglytsteermg whhcls and steering mechanism of 81 motor't-"chiolc, of atv vertically extending sleeve. secured to the frame;adjucntpthw drivers seat, a, supportingymember; j'ourcnalccl withinsaidslccve ionrotatiQn around a loi'igituqi'nai axis, a, driving traincon? noot ng said supporting; n cmbcxr with; the

stccring mcchanismwheifeby saicllsupportmgr member tw11lturu-ab0ut its:axis during; open t cause the lamp structure :tOwtUIIlqthfilYB- withdunno connection norxnallyflocking the,[ I lamp structure to saidsugporting member operation; offthcstceringlmechs anism, anti tmoans0115 rcleasin t; smtiicon- The combihation it with: the body; steer? ingwhecls and mtalto ahsut-its vcrticaltaxis, a. di'iving trainh connectedwithsaid supporting member and h wing adj usg bleconnection "with the;steer mg mechan sm whereby said mom rwllibo supporting nlcmbsr,

demnt and I groove 130B.

steering mechanisxmof: atumor tor vehicle, oiza frameadjustublylsecureditov said body adjacent the drivers saty aisupsportingmember journaledl in" said 5 fiiamei ltd neoticn hctwecnx; said lan pstructures and supportin mcmhcr operabl'v normally to lock the amp:structurctothe supporting mcmhor and miaptcd to bGflCft11ated\tOwIB-lease the lam iiism.

structuru f01 "s111&11;\1 aid opemtion indcpcn ently of:thetsteeringmechas 4:, The ombinationl with thcbodyyzsteer mg Wheels t and steering;mcchanlsmw of a.

motor vchic1e,-of a bearingtfmmetsecured to said body. adjuccntthedrivcrsseat, a p putting-member journalcd tto rotatozt ii -urns, adriving train;connecting;said supt steemng mebhas.

porting msmhtr withithe; hism whereby to, cficct turn ng thcrcofijw hen[the steering mechanism is operated, a pilot lamp, a stem extending fromsaid lamp into said supporting member and rotatable and longitudinallyshiftable thereim an abutment on said stem,- and a, spring tending toforce said abutment against said supporting membgrtq cause the stem andlamp to turn with saidmsupportin .membgr, "said spring per- ,mittingma'nqa *separafilonpf said abutment from said suppmrting member \vherebysaid 10 lamp may be turned independently of said SlIlPPOI'ting mem herand skewing mechanisnm In witness whereof I hereunto subscribg my namethis 11th day of January, A. 1)., 15 1916.

CLIFFORD V. BATES

